THOMAS FRY - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Washington City, Feb 5, 1864

Ed. Journal - Unexpectedly I find myself in this city as a witness in the court martial of the Surgeon General, which is now slowly progressing. Washingtin is unusually crowded this winter and is more gay than in times of peace. The receptions, parties, levees, and hops, night after night, are are attended by crowds of ladies and gentlemen, in dress more brilliant than has been generally worn in this country. The West is strongly represented, and I am proud to say that Indiana, once the butt of ridicule for all other States is now above par in both military and civil affairs. Were it not for a few Copperheads, who dishonor the State they pretend to represent, no State in the Union could boast a prouder record than Indiana during the present war. It is one of the strange events in the history of the world, that men from the North, born and nurtured in the very lkap of freedom, inhaling the very breath of a pure and untrammeled liberty, should, in the maturity of manhood, lend all their powers to foster and perpetuate an institution which is oppressive to both the white and the black man, and which is inimical to all the best interests of the human family. What renders it still more strange is the fact that Southern men who have spent their lives beneath the shadow of slavery are now anxiously struggling to free themselves and their country of the evils which the institution has brought upon them. Philsophy can give no reasonable explanation of such unnatural conduct. It can be acocunted for alone on the principle that partisan and selfish interests have so controlled their minds as to render them incpable of perceiving the right.

What candid man, after reviewing the history of the radical pro-slavery democracy of the north for a few years past, could doubt for a moment that if that party were in power they would make a dishonorable compromise with the traitors now in arms against out government - that they would give new guarantees for slavery, the cause of war with all its concomitant evils?

Why is that all the riots of the north arising from opposition to the draft have been brought about by this pro-slavery democracy? Why is it that all Southern sympathizers of the north are members of that party? Why is it that the leaders of that party are now the leaders of the rebellion? Why is it that the members of the Senate and House of Representatives of that party now in Congress, endeavor to throw every possible obstacle in the way of the successful prosecution of the war and crushing the rebellion? Why do they denounce the Administration, the federal army, and utter scarcely a word of condemnation against Jeff Davis and his piratical crew? Why propose terms of peace when the traitors declare in advance that they will resist every such proposition? There is a significance in the course of the party which will stand and in all time to count as the darkest page in American history.

The signs of the times indicate that the period is not far distant, when Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Maryland, Louisiana and Florida, and I doubt not Texas, will return to the union as free States. The experiments of raising cotton with free labor have been tried, and proved successful; the profits have been greater than they were with slave labor. There have been some interesting discussions in Congress recnetly, and it is gratifying to see the bold stand now taken by the friends of the union. Senator Sherman of Ohio, made a speech in which he took ground that we should not cease our labors until every vestige of the institution was wiped out. In speaking of negro slaves, he said the Government had a right to take them; and turning to Garrett Davis of Kentucky, he said: "Sir, I doubt not your loyalty. I know you shouldered your musket and marched side by side with the private soldier; but I do not concur in a single sentiment you have uttered. The Government has a right to your son, to yourself, and has she not the right to take your slave? Does not the young widow whose husband has given his life for his country make as great a sacrifice as the man whose slave is taken? Tell her that she does not, and she will reply, "You are a fool or a knave!"

The Senator's remarks were pointed, forcible and seathing. If we listen to border State politicians of the pro-slavery democratic school, we would believe that the slave holder had made great sacifices than any other clan, forgetting the sacrifices made by the federal soldier in giving up home and family, and social and business life. These things seem not to enter into their calculations - the slave is before their eyes and they can see nothing else. Truly, Thos. W. Fry

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